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Explosives have been detonated by police in the backyard of the Davoren Park home. (ABC News)
Police have begun setting off explosives known as “Mother of Satan” in the backyard of an Adelaide home.
Key points:
- Davoren Park man Aaron Ellis has appeared in court charged with making explosives
- Police say he has “anti-Muslim views” but deny Mr Ellis was threatening violence
- The bomb squad conducted four controlled explosions in the home’s backyard
The home at Heytesbury Road at Davoren Park, in Adelaide’s north, was raided by police last night and “explosive-related material” was allegedly found.
Properties surrounding the home were evacuated as emergency services prepared to detonate the explosive materials.
Three explosions have been seen from the backyard of the house between 3:10pm and 4:15pm.
Aaron Ellis, 43, has been charged with possession and manufacture of explosives.
He appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court and has been remanded in custody.
Brevet Sergeant Daren Cross told the court Mr Ellis had come to the attention of police in February after he posted on social media that “he hated Muslims”.
“When they attended the address in February there was nothing to cause grave concern,” he said.
“The reason they went there was because he put a post on Facebook stating that he hated Muslims.
“They couldn’t find anything constituting an offence on that occasion.”
The court heard police received “fresh information” yesterday that the accused was in possession of chemicals.
“Police attended with [the] bomb squad … [and] he explained that he mixed the chemicals into a substance referred to as ‘Mother of Satan’,” Sergeant Cross said.
“Bomb squad members have advised that it will need to be detonated in situ.
“They have sealed off the area … it’s likely that the local neighbourhood will be evacuated.”
Suspect would ‘continue bomb making’, police say
“Mother of Satan” is a nickname for triacetone triperoxide, also known as TATP, which has previously been used in attacks around the globe and is manufactured with household chemicals.
“This is a highly volatile explosive and cannot be transported,” Sergeant Cross said.
The chemicals found at the Davoren Park property were housed in a garden shed, and police earlier said they expected the shed would be destroyed in a controlled detonation.
Holes have since been dug in the backyard of the home surrounded by sandbags.
“There is potential that had it not been located that it could have caused substantial damage and injury,” Sergeant Cross said.
“From my information on file from the bomb squad they have come across this type of explosive once before interstate where a person lost their hands, that’s how serious the chemicals are.”
Sergeant Cross opposed releasing Mr Ellis on bail.
“We would be opposing bail because between February and the incident yesterday, that’s just a matter of eight weeks, he has managed to get all these chemicals, he’s managed to find information on how to make bombs and explosive material,” he said.
“We have concerns that if he’s released there is potential for him [to] obtain these chemicals and continue to do his bomb making for whatever reason, we don’t know.”
The court heard police had seized his phone and computer and that further charges could be laid.
Suspect is an amputee who ‘abhors violence’
Defence lawyer Josh Bach called for Mr Ellis to be released on home detention bail to live at his daughter’s house.
“Mr Ellis is someone on bail who would not pose a significant risk to the community,” he said.
“[He] is missing one leg, he lost that leg in a motorbike accident some 25 years ago, he needs the assistance of crutches to walk around.
“He has no criminal history of violent offending. I’m instructed that he abhors violence and that he is very distressed at the suggestion.”
Magistrate Gary Gumpl remanded Mr Ellis in custody to face court again next Monday when he will consider whether he should be released on home detention bail.
“I suspect that your client is in this invidious position where he doesn’t want to talk about the offences out of fear of incriminating himself and yet without explaining the reason behind this he’s going to have difficulty getting bail,” Mr Gumpl said.
A perimeter has been established around the home.
“They told me they’d found explosive devices or the makings of explosive things and it was dangerous, and either to stay inside or go, so I’m going,” neighbour Cynthia said.
Another neighbour Renee McKelvie, who lives two doors down from the property, said emergency services had “put sandbags down near the driveway”.
“They’re currently about to do some kind of explosion test, that’s why if people are inside they’ve asked them to stay away from the windows and doors, but they would rather people out,” she said.
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